The Government is facing further criticism over Shannon airport as British Midland (BMI) announced it would not take over Aer Lingus's Shannon to Heathrow service.
It is understood that BMI rejected an offer by Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) to fill the void left by Aer Lingus's decision to move its base to Belfast as it has committed large resources to new Heathrow services over the coming year.
The airline announced last month it plans to operate 18 new services from Heathrow to 17 destinations.
The SAA had been hoping to find a replacement for Aer Lingus, which carries about 320,000 passengers to Heathrow annually and is pulling off the route at the end of this year.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey described the decision as disappointing.
"The Shannon Airport Authority is continuing in its efforts to attract a new airline to Shannon to maintain international connectivity in the region. The Government will do all that it can to assist the airport authority in its efforts," said Mr Dempsey.
But Minister of State and Clare TD Tony Killeen said Aer Lingus's decision to pull out showed "flagrant disregard" for Government policy. The company's claim that it was pulling out for commercial reasons was "relatively unconvincing from the outset", he told RTÉ.
Siptu national secretary Michael Halpenny said the decision was "further evidence of the absolutely appalling lapse of judgement by the Government in privatising Aer Lingus".
The Government has resisted calls to use the 25 per cent stake it retains in the airline to reverse the decision.
Labour Party TD for Limerick East Jan O'Sullivan reiterated her call for such a move as did Atlantic Connectivity Alliance vice chairman Ken Sullivan. Ms O'Sullivan said the BMI option was a "distraction" that was never going to come to pass.
Fine Gael transport spokesman Fergus O'Dowd today said: "The only choice left to Minister Dempsey and his Government is to put this issue on the agenda at the forthcoming Aer Lingus EGM to seek to protect the Shannon to Heathrow service," Mr O'Dowd said.
He also called on the Minister to clarify when he learned about BMI's decision.
"He claims he was only 'formally' notified about the decision on Thursday. But if separate reports are true that the Government was informed before last week's debate in the Dáil, he must explain why he did not inform the Dáil at any stage, including during his own contribution to the debate," Mr O'Dowd said.
Sinn Féin regional development spokesman Senator Pearse Doherty said the leaking of the BMI decision teh day before last week's debate was a "cynical political ploy by government".
The SAA had announced BMI was unable to take up the Shannon route "due to pressure arising from its recent, largest-ever expansion of services from Heathrow".
"British Midlands has stated it is not in a position over the coming months to commit resources to take up the very generous incentives on the Shannon-Heathrow route offered by management at Shannon Airport.
"Shannon airport management wishes to stress that it is keeping lines of communication open with British Midlands in anticipation that it may revisit this decision," the SAA said in a statement.